Tag: chronic health conditions

  • [Veterans Day News] Brown urges Senate to take action on Agent Orange bill

    [Veterans Day News] Brown urges Senate to take action on Agent Orange bill

    Washington, D.C. – On the Senate floor yesterday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, led his colleagues in urging the President to take action on behalf of thousands of Vietnam veterans across the country living with chronic health conditions, by expanding the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Parkinsonism, Bladder Cancer, Hypertension, and Hypothyroidism. Republicans rejected Brown’s measure.

     

    Thousands of veterans – many of whom are aging and in urgent need of critical health care and other benefits – have waited far too long for a final decision that should have been made by the VA in 2016.

    “Thousands of veterans – many of whom are aging and in urgent need of critical health care and other benefits – have waited far too long for a final decision that should have been made by the VA in 2016. I urge my colleagues to add Parkinsonism, Bladder Cancer, Hypertension and Hypothyroidism to the list of presumptive health outcomes for service-connected exposure to Agent Orange without further delay,” said Brown.

    Currently, VA provides presumptions for seven of the fourteen health outcomes for which the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has found a suggestive association between herbicide exposure and a particular medical condition. However, the four aforementioned conditions have yet to be recognized by VA, making it difficult for veterans to receive care and benefits for these illnesses. In fact, hypertension is now recognized by NAM as having sufficient association, or an even stronger link, with herbicide exposure. A presumption of exposure means that if a veteran served in a specific area during a defined time frame, VA will presume that they were exposed to certain harmful chemicals or environmental hazards.

    According to internal documents obtained by a veteran through the Freedom of Information Act, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and other White House officials objected to then VA Secretary David Shulkin’s recommendation to add three health conditions — Bladder Cancer, Parkinsonism, and Hypothyroidism — to the list of conditions eligible for Agent Orange benefits in October 2017, denying approximately 83,000 veterans faster access to disability compensation and health benefits.



  • Loveland yoga enthusiast’s unique practices empower community

    Loveland yoga enthusiast’s unique practices empower community

    Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – Stressed? Can’t sleep? Experiencing body pain you can’t explain? Unfortunately, these are all symptoms that we feel every day due to the constant pressure we put on ourselves to succeed at work, at school, at the gym or even within our own families. People are constantly trying to find that one unique escape route where they can relieve their daily stresses, without having to necessarily partake in a vigorous 30-minute run or a trip to the bar for some happy hour cocktails. Loveland Resident Linda Becker offers an escape route for those everyday stresses that is not only unique but promotes healing and a sense of well-being mentally and physically.

    Linda opened Loveland Yoga and Wellness in 2014 in the West Loveland Historic District only one block west of the Little Miami River on West Loveland Avenue. “I have lived in Loveland since 1981. I knew if I owned a business, I wanted it to be a part of the Loveland community. When I saw the For Sale sign and scheduled a viewing of the property, I fell in love with the house/location,” Linda said. 

    According to Linda, it wasn’t always her plan to open her own studio, but claimed that she always had a passion for the art of yoga. 

    “My daughter was home from college and took me to a couple of classes in the early 2000s. It was love at first breath. It made me feel so good afterward. I began practicing as much as I could and enrolled in my first teacher training in 2007. I took the teacher training to delve deeper into my own personal practices. I had no intention of teaching others! But with encouragement from my teachers, I began teaching at YogahOMe in Symmes Township (no longer in operation). I eventually taught a variety of classes there 5 times a week. I became increasingly interested in yoga therapy and in 2013 I completed a 300hr advanced training in Urban Zen Integrative Therapy. I never wanted to own a studio, but when YogahOMe closed their doors, I thought it might be the right time to offer more therapeutic services. So I opened Loveland Yoga and Wellness in 2014.”

    Over the past few years, Linda has racked up quite a number of certifications. Becker is not only a Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level registered with Yoga Alliance, but she is also certified as an Urban Zen Integrative Therapist, a Yoga Therapist with The International Association of Yoga Therapists, a Master Reiki, and an Oil Therapist who makes custom solutions for sleep.

    So what exactly makes Loveland Yoga and Wellness unique? “Loveland Yoga and Wellness is not a typical yoga studio. I think of it as a wellness center with many options to meet students where they are. Class sizes are kept small with plenty of individual attention to develop safe practices. It’s a community with everyone supporting each other,” Linda said. 

    Linda’s wellness studio offers a variety of unique therapy techniques indeed! Of course the center provides both Yoga and Yoga Therapy, but in addition to that Linda also offers Urban Zen Integrative Therapy, which mixes the healing modalities of gentle yoga such as gentle movements, restorative positions, guided meditation and breathing techniques, Reiki Therapy, a Japanese healing practice that is associated with the benefits of deep relaxation, stress reduction, more restful sleep, and enhanced immune functioning, Aromatherapy, which uses essential oils made from plant materials to promote relaxation, relieve stress, anxiety and lessen symptoms from acute and chronic health conditions, and lastly Raindrop Technique Therapy, which is an energizing technique where oils are layered on the neck, back and feet bringing about balance and electrical alignment. 

    With the wellness center providing so many different types of therapy it attracts a wider audience than most Yoga studios ranging from young professionals to senior citizens. “I am passionate about yoga practices being accessible to everyone,” Linda said. 

    Loveland Yoga and Wellness offers a plethora of classes that integrates different types of therapy according to what health or physical challenges you’re encountering as well as training classes/series, such as Reiki Level 1, Yoga series for Osteoporosis, Yoga series for Chronic Back Pain and 200-hour Level Yoga Teacher training, for anyone seeking certification in a particular therapy.  

    “In addition to typical mixed level yoga classes, I offer therapeutic and chair yoga classes appropriate for anyone. Urban Zen classes address symptoms of pain, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, constipation, and exhaustion. Private sessions address specific individual needs. I want to empower students to be proactive in their health care. I also offer private Reiki treatments and Essential Oil Therapy,” Linda said. “I am beginning a 200-hour teacher training immersion 9/17. This is for anyone wanting to learn how to be their own teacher and share the practices with others. Also, 9/26 I am offering a very popular chronic low back pain series. Last year this 12-week series sold out,” Linda added.

    As off current on Monday’s at 3 PM Chair Yoga is offered, which uses a chair for comfort for seated positions as well as for standing postures. This class is meant to help increase flexibility, strength,and a sense of calm. On Tuesday’s at 9 AM, Wednesday’s at 8:30 AM and Saturday’s at 9 AM Mixed Levels Yoga classes are given. This class is designed for yogis of all levels! The class uses props and modifications so that everyone can complete the postures effectively. Also offered on Tuesday’s are Therapeutic Yoga classes which are held at 6 PM. This class requires no previous yoga experience and places a strong focuses on gentle and slow movements that build strength to support your spine and joints. Therapeutic Yoga is ideal for beginners, those recovering from a surgery or people who suffer from joint pain. On Thursday’s at 9:30 AM and 6 PM Urban Zen classes are held which incorporates both Essential Oils and Reiki while using simple movements, breath awareness techniques, guided meditations and restorative positions. 

    Over the past few years, Yoga studios have been popping up left and right as it has become extremely popular as a form of exercise as well as a way of uniting mind, body, and spirit. Loveland Yoga and Wellness is far from your average Yoga studio as it not only offers the most unique therapeutic practices but it also invites anyone and everyone to take classes regardless of their age, weight or current health status. Not to mention Yoga pants aren’t required!

    If you are interested in partaking in classes or training series’ at Loveland Yoga and Wellness, located at 429 West Loveland Avenue, Loveland, Ohio, 45140, you may visit the website at https://lovelandyogaandwellness.com, the Facebook page at www.https://facebook.com/lovelandyogaandwellness, email the center at lovelandyogaandwellness@gmail.com or simply call 513-604-1798.



     

    Loveland Sweets is a purveyor of hand-crafted chocolates, caramels, marshmallows, and ice creams. Our house-made candies are prepared in small batches